NEWS 3 New deputy voted in J.L. ‘FRED’ SMITH fred@setimes.com.au THE new deputy mayor of Wattle Range Council states she will bring “freshness and energy” to the role. Councillor Moira Neagle was elected as the new deputy to Mayor Des Noll OAM in a secret ballot at Tuesday night’s monthly council meeting in Millicent. The first-term Corcoran ward representative defeated fellow Millicent resident Cr Peter Dunnicliff, of Kintore word. A councillor in three wards since 2006, Cr Dunnicliff had been nominated by Corcoran ward councillor Sharon Cox while the name of Cr Neagle was put forward by Cr Dean Burrow, of Riddoch ward. It was the second tilt for the role by Cr Dunnicliff as he and Cr Burrow had unsuccessfully challenged Corcoran ward’s Cr Glenn Brown last November, Kintore ward remains the sole ward not to have had a deputy mayor since Wattle Range Council was established in 1997. Cr Neagle becomes only the sixth occupant of the position since the council was founded almost 22 years ago. Her predecessors have been Pat Muhovics (Corcoran ward 1997-2000), Mark Braes (Corcoran, 2000-03), Simon Cox (Riddoch, 2003-06), Rob Dycer (Sorby Adams, 2006-2018) and Cr Brown (2018-19). The vacancy arose as Cr Brown stated last month he would be leaving council as he was moving from Millicent to Mount Gambier. His resignation as deputy Ben Gower and his deputy Paul Duka. The voting details were not stated and council passed a motion to have the ballot papers destroyed. The election was preceded by several minutes of debate about the timing of the election and the term of office. Cr Burrow sought to have the matter delayed until after a replacement for Cr Brown was elected in Corcoran ward. “We might get a super-duper candidate,” Cr Burrow said. “Everyone in the room could be the deputy mayor.” His motion was supported by Cr Cox. “It would be nice to have the new elected member in the process.” However, Cr John Drew said he was concerned about a gap of up to six months. “We are a competent group and should get on with the job.” The motion to delay the elec- tion was defeated four votes to seven. WELCOME ABOARD: Wattle Range Mayor Des Noll congratulated his new deputy Councillor Moira Neagle during a brief break in Tuesday night’s meeting. mayor took effect on Tuesday and he told the meeting that he will cease being a Corcoran ward representative on June 30. The elevation of Cr Neagle means all seven councils in the region for the first time now have a female in a leadership role as either mayor, deputy mayor or chief executive. Her professional career as an educator spans more than 35 years and she has worked as a teacher and principal of Picture: J.L. “FRED” SMITH government schools across the South East region including Millicent North, Rendelsham, Tantanoola and Newbery Park primary schools. The daughter of a late soldiersettler from the Naracoorte region, Ms Neagle has wide community interests and writes a regular column for The South Eastern Times. The ballot of the 11 councillors and Mayor Noll was conducted in private by chief executive The attention of councillors then turned to the term of office for whoever was elected. Cr Dale Price successfully argued the new deputy mayor hold office until the January meeting in 2021. Cr Price said a term of two years would allow multiple people to have an understanding of the mayoral role. As part of the deliberations, Mayor Noll and Cr Drew had paid tribute to the service to council and the community by Cr Brown. Mayor Noll said he looked to fully involve the deputy mayor in the council leadership role including informal meetings every Monday morning. Council budget plan released for public consultation J.L. ‘FRED’ SMITH fred@setimes.com.au PUBLIC comment has now been invited on the proposed unprecedented zero increase in rate revenue across the Wattle Range Council area for the coming financial year. Council met in Millicent on Tuesday night and “rubber stamped” the draft 70-page document with the exception of some minor “typos”. Staff and elected members spent only a few minutes to clarify some matters about the draft $25m budget for 2019/20. Queries were raised by Councillor John Drew and Cr Rick Paltridge. Council is set to have a small operating deficit of $112,000 and spend almost $8m on capital works. It is proposed most council fees and charges will also not rise in the coming 12 months. The deadline to lodge written submis- sions is June 7 and council will hear verbal submissions at a meeting four days later. The proposed change in the rating formula means around 72pc of ratepayers will pay the same or less rates than their current levels. A higher rate burden will be levelled on Glencoe settlement residents, small holding hobby farmers and wind farms. Councillors and senior staff have held numerous closed gatherings over the past four months to work on the plan. Public Consultation 2019/2020 Draft Annual Business Plan In accordance with Council’s Community Engagement Policy, members of the public are invited to make written submissions to Council in relation to Council’s Draft Annual Business Plan for 2019/2020. Written submissions marked “2019/2020 Draft Annual Business Plan” must be addressed to the Chief Executive Officer, Wattle Range Council, PO Box 27, MILLICENT, SA, 5280, or forwarded by email to council@wattlerange.sa.gov.au and must be received by 5pm on Friday, 7 June 2019. Members of the public are also invited to attend an Ordinary Meeting of Wattle Range Council to be held on Tuesday, 11 June 2019 in the Council Chambers, Civic Centre, George Street, Millicent, commencing at 5 pm, to make submissions to Council in relation to Council’s Draft Annual Business Plan for 2019/2020. Persons intending to attend the meeting to make a submission are respectfully requested to advise Council’s Executive Assistant, Catherine Allen by telephone on 8733 0900, by COB on Monday, 3 June 2019. Copies of the 2019/2020 Draft Annual Business Plan are available from each of Council’s Offices and the Millicent Library, during normal office hours, or can be downloaded from Council’s website at www.wattlerange.sa.gov.au/haveyoursay. Ben Gower CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER 750087 IN BRIEF Blackspot covered MOBILE phone service has finally come to Kalangadoo residents after a wait of more than 20 years. The coverage had been patchy until a new phone tower was erected by Telstra with funding provided by the Federal Government under its Black Spot program. The new tower is located on grazing land on the Nangwarry Road and near an existing NBN telecommunications tower. Public meet and greet MEMBERS of the public are invited to have coffee with a Robe District councillor on May 19 from 10am to noon at two Victoria Street locations. Councillor David Laurie will be at the new Drift café while Mayor Alison Nunan will be at the Adventurous Spoon. Start an apprenticeship now. We’re investing in more training places to unlock hundreds of skilled career opportunities in all kinds of industries. If you’re ready to earn while you learn, follow your passion and start an apprenticeship now. Visit skills.sa.gov.au www.thesoutheasterntimes.com.au The South Eastern Times, Thursday, May 16, 2019 - 3